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Columbia City weathers storm, beats Carroll |
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Monday, December 03 2007 |
By MARK PARKER
for The Post & Mail
Freezing rain, and icy roads made the trip to Carroll High School for the Columbia City Lady Eagles’ basketball a treacherous one, but strong defense and good shooting by the Lady Eagles made the trip well worth the effort as Columbia City came away with a 47-37 win Saturday night.
The Lady Eagles built up a 19-point lead through the first three quarters and needed a good deal of it as the Lady Chargers made both defensive and offensive adjustments that held Columbia City without a field goal in the fourth quarter as the hosts cut the lead in half.
In the first half, the Lady Chargers chose to double and triple-team Columbia City center Nicole Ott, freeing other Lady Eagles for open looks. In the first quarter freshman Sierria Burlage profited from the strategy scoring six points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field.
While the Lady Eagles were shooting 5-of-10 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line, a stingy perimeter defense from Columbia City was forcing the Lady Chargers into nine first quarter turnovers and limiting them to 2-of-9 shooting from the field. Columbia City built a 10-point, 14-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter brought more defensive pressure from the Lady Eagles, limiting the Lady Chargers to only five shots from the field and two points for the entire quarter.
Columbia City also started to succumb to the turnover bug committing five in the second quarter, limiting their shots. The Eagles were able to find Janelle Moss twice for open looks at the basket as the Columbia City sophomore scored four of the Eagles’ nine second quarter points. The Eagle lead grew to 23-6 at the half.
The third quarter has been traditionally difficult for the Lady Eagles and even though Columbia City was able to increase its lead by two over the length of the quarter, that trend continued as increased pressure by the Lady Chargers on the Eagles guards forced eight Columbia City turnovers in the quarter.
Those turnovers paid dividends early in the quarter as the Lady Chargers closed to 28-16 following a basket and three free throws by senior guard Ali Felger. Three point baskets by guards Alex Bunyan and Hannah Coy, and another by Burlage who led the Eagles in quarter with seven points gave Columbia City a 38-19 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Chargers made a strong run at the Eagles in the fourth quarter as three consecutive turnovers let Carroll start their charge. The hosts closed to 38-27 on a three-pointer by Felger. Two free throws by Coy and another two by Bunyan kept the Eagle lead at 11.
A final three by the Chargers’ Maddie Kinast cut the Columbia City lead to 46-37. A final free throw by Burlage set the final margin at 47-37.
“We didn’t really continue to be aggressive in the fourth quarter and they (Carroll) became the aggressor,” CC coach Wayne Kreiger noted. “The first half we had a lot of different kids involved in the offense, the second half we didn’t move the ball as well, because of their pressure. They took our first half philosophy and used it against us.”
The win raises the Columbia City record to 5-1, 1-0 in the Northeast Hoosier Conference.
The Lady Eagle JV dropped a 42-40 decision to the Lady Chargers. The JV Eagles led 36-30 at the end of the third quarter, but were out scored 12-4 in the final quarter.
Casey Garcia led the Lady Eagle JV with 11 points. Maddie Hinen added 10 for Columbia City. The Lady Eagle freshmen were downed 28-16 by the Charger freshman.
The Lady Eagles return to action Friday when they host the Norwell Lady Knights in another Northeast Hoosier Conference match-up. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, December 04 2007 )
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